Video card upgrade

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shipwreck-zombies

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Mar 15, 2010
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Hello! My 8800GTX recently burned out so i'm temporarily using an 8600GTS to continue working while I find a replacement

I use the machine for multimedia work and gaming. I dont really have a budget constraint (while minding price/performance), but I'm not quite ready to commit to a full rebuild. I would like to work in stages, starting with the video card

Current system:
Lian Li PC-V1200
Abit IP35 Pro
Intel Q6600
BFG 8800GTX
OCZ 4 GB DDR2
Corsair HX620
Vista 64

I am thinking GPU and perhaps PSU for now now - would a newer card need more than 620W?

And after that I'm not sure, maybe just do the rest. DDR3 would be nice, and would I really get a new motherboard without a new CPU?

So, reccomendations for a video card with the setup and goals in mind?

I have been looking at the gtx260, gtx283, or the gtx285, and im wondering if PCIE2 is an issue?

thanks for your time
 
XFX 4870 - No new PSU needed and cheaper than the cards you mentioned with nearly the same performance.
 
Your PSU is pretty much more than enough for any single GPU video card out.

You're gonna have to get the DDR3 RAM, new mobo, and new CPU all in one go. Current C2Q based setups do not benefit whatsoever from DDR3 RAM. In addition, most new DDR3 based setups are not compatible with socket 775 setups whatsoever. Most new CPUs use DDR3 RAM exclusively. So yeah, DDR3 RAM, new mobo, and new CPU all in one go.

Now what size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?

Oh and none of those Nvidia cards (and pretty much most Nvidia cards these days sadly) are worth buying from a price to performance perspective. Generally, the $160 HD 5770 and $300 HD 5850 are the best bang for the buck cards out there.
 
Thanks for the recommendations, and Danny I appreciate your confirmation on upgrading the mobo, cpu, and ram in one go.

I have two Benq 22" monitors, and i'm looking to replace one with something larger in the near future

I like the looks of this Asus hd5850 - would you reccomend this card with my system, and do you foresee any issues?
 
shipwreck-zombies said:
I like the looks of this Asus hd5850 - would you reccomend this card with my system, and do you foresee any issues?
Click to expand...

Don't see any issues. Nothing wrong with the company or card per se. Personally though, I'd go for the cheapest XFX branded HD 5850 as those come with lifetime warranty and better support.
 
What brand is your 8800GTX? If it has a lifetime warranty, they may replace it with a GTX260 for free. ;)
 
I don't have any particular brand loyalties, so XFX 5850 it is - can't argue with a lifetime warranty

I'm just about ready to order this card, but I paused at a review:
"Other Thoughts: Had to upgrade my 650Watt powersupply because this card requires more than 20amps on each of the 12V rails. I ended up buying the Corsair 750W powersupply which had 60amps. The 650W powersupply was not enough power and caused the computer to shut off like someone was pulling the power cord. The manufacturer of this card does not state how many amps are needed on the rails. Be sure to have a power supply that can power this card."

Would someone please reassure me one last time that my Corsair HX620 will handle this card? I see on the cards specifications it calls for 500W so I'm unclear as to what this reviewer is talking about

I've been moving around quite a bit since I built my current system, and seemed to have misplaced the BFG receipt, drr... There's still a chance it will turn up, in which case I'll still go through the warrantee and have an extra card - I can find use for it

Also, I'm currently in Canada, and while I can drive across the border to pick up packages I'd prefer to order from newegg.ca. They have the HD5850 Black Edition in stock, so I guess I'll go with that? All I can tell is its the same card but oc'd slightly

Thanks everyone for your input it's great to have the support I've been out of the market for a while. If I can get the final thumbs up on the HD5850 Black Edition I'm going to it right away
 
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shipwreck-zombies said:
I'm just about ready to order this card, but I paused at a review:
"Other Thoughts: Had to upgrade my 650Watt powersupply because this card requires more than 20amps on each of the 12V rails. I ended up buying the Corsair 750W powersupply which had 60amps. The 650W powersupply was not enough power and caused the computer to shut off like someone was pulling the power cord. The manufacturer of this card does not state how many amps are needed on the rails. Be sure to have a power supply that can power this card."

Would someone please reassure me one last time that my Corsair HX620 will handle this card? I see on the cards specifications it calls for 500W so I'm unclear as to what this reviewer is talking about it
Click to expand...

For the last time your Corsair 620HX is fine. It has a single rail of 50A, more than enough for that video card. That reviewer was either an idiot, had a 650W PSU with a piss poor power layout, had a shitty 650W PSU, had a crappy 650W PSU, didn't known WTF he was talking about, didn't diagnose the problem correctly, didn't plug in the card's power cables correctly, etc. Either way, ignore that review. The end message is good but his supporting statements is full of shit.
 
I am running a I-5 750 o/c to 3.6 with a 5850 just fine on a 620 corsair power supply.
 
No single GPU vidcard out right now will require a 750W PSU unless the rest of the system is obscenely overbuilt.

shipwreck-zombies said:
... I've been moving around quite a bit since I built my current system, and seemed to have misplaced the BFG receipt, drr... There's still a chance it will turn up, in which case I'll still go through the warrantee and have an extra card - I can find use for it. ...
Click to expand...

Did you order it online? If so, check your email for the order confirmation, or login to whatever site you bought it from and search for the invoice. If you still can't find it, call up BFG and see if they'll help you out. They do have good customer service, or so I hear. :p Let us know how it goes. ;)
 
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